Young Recruits Buying Their Own Hype

ESPN conducted a survey of women’s college basketball coaches and recruiters to uncover what they are really looking for in recruits. WomenTalkSports.com caught my attention by highlighting the below comment from that survey. The comments were all posted anonymously.

One coach or trainer said, “…This generation right now likes to be told what to do. … Four to five years ago there were more kids who understood that accountability piece. It was more about looking for talent because kids were much more disciplined. Technology and media attention have changed kids tremendously. Kids aren't as invested to work in the gym every day. They need to Facebook, and Twitter, and check out what all the media outlets are saying about them. It didn't used to be like that. Kids want instant gratification. And so do their parents. There seems to be no long-term investment into working hard, being accountable and letting natural progression happen."

Upfront, I have never played college basketball, nor have I recruited for it. Perhaps it is true that kids do not like to spend time at the gym. Maybe they do need to be told what to do and act more accountable for their actions. However what, if anything, does that have to do with social media?

Is this recruiter implying that social media has inflated athletes’ egos? That is an interesting statement. Today there are websites completely devoted to high school sports. Maybe the issue is that the best players of today actually know they are the best (where before they could only speculate). Before the internet, local newspapers would cover top talent. However games did not stream on-line, and the stakes (college scholarships-especially for women) were not as high. Years ago the best athletes may not have known they were the best, because it was hard to compare a kid in Maine with one in southern California.

There are two ways to think of this. Perhaps this is just some cranky, old coach who does not ‘get’ social media and likes to look back on athletes of yesteryear through rose-colored glasses. “Back in the day, athletes lifted weights for 6 hours straight, every day…” OR perhaps this is an observant recruiter who is realizing that information overload on an unprepared subject (whether they be student-athletes or, as recent news has taught us, even small time politicians) is a dangerous thing. Maybe there is a little Narcissus in us all, and it rears its ugly head worst in those delicate high school years.

I disagree that technology is making young athletes unaccountable and obsessed with instant gratification. However it is a very real possibility that talented young athletes are buying into their own hype, a hype that has only become possible in a virtual world. Ref. espn.com, womentalksports.com

Follow Your Favorite Olympian---Right Into London

London 2012 Olympians will be allowed to share their experiences at the Games with fans on Twitter, blogs and other forms of social media. The only catch is that the ruling body of the Olympics (IOC) has set some tight guidelines on what information can be shared and they will be monitoring to ensure compliance. The guidelines were published in May and essentially allow for participants (athletes, coaches, etc) to online journal but not post about fellow athletes without the other athlete’s permission.

Also allowed are photos, even photos taken within Olympic venues. The exception is that athletes must get permission before posting pics taken within the Olympic Village. Videos and audio recordings taken within the Olympic venues are not allowed.

Further regulations are that athletes are strictly forbidden from selling photos they take and also may not use their personal social media spaces commercially endorsing companies or products. These rules will be monitored by a new dedicated site OlympicGamesMonitoring.com. This will be a place where participants and other authorized people can report questionable postings. The site is up but apparently password-protected.

I love that athletes will be able to online journal their thoughts and feelings, it reminds me of the article I posted about golfers Tweeting during the next Ryder Cup. Now fans will get a glimpse backstage into the way it feels for these athletes to compete for their country. Furthermore, it is awesome that the rules deliberately exclude athletes from plugging products or companies. What am I most excited about though? It would have to be photos of the mysterious yet fascinating Olympic Village. Ref. pcmag.com, pic: darrinsrides.blogspot.com

London 2012 Blog - Confessions of a Host City

Fans of the Olympics are in luck. Even though you will need to wait until next year to see any events, the London 2012 Summer Games have a blog following every decision and problem faced as the games creep closer. The blog is called London2012Blog: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/london-2012-olympics-blog. It can be found under the sports section on The Guardian website.

The London 2012 Blog is, simply put, amazing. It gives Olympic nuts their fix through coverage of everything Games delivered with a healthy side of dry British wit. Readers around the world get a glimpse into the trials and tribulations that are happening in London in preparation for the Games. It covers everything from reactions to the torch (is it a torch or a cheese grater, nobody knows), the finalists in designing the London 2012 posters, athlete spotlights and updates on the ongoing circus of ticket distribution.

I do not recall seeing this type of blog for the Beijing Games (but the language barrier may have been why). This blog is a huge step forward in engaging fans and stirring up excitement for the big event. Ref. london2012blog, img. davidreport.com

Can You Exercise Too Much?

My husband’s cousin became an Ultramarathoner last week. He completed the Mohican 50 mile race. Yes, that is not a typo, 50 miles. This is an amazing accomplishment and I offer him the highest congratulations. However I could not help but wonder if that much running is even considered healthy or safe for the human body? That is why I was so excited today to come across the top story on Wired, “Why You (Probably) Can’t Exercise Too Much.”

A study published in International Journal of Sports Medicine last month looked at 834 athletes who competed in the Tour de France from somewhere between 1930-1964 and were born between 1892-1942. The study selected Tour de France athletes because the Tour is one of the most intense sporting events requiring great endurance and training. When the lifespans of these athletes were compared against non-athletes born during those same years, the results were pretty surprising. The study found that not only did the extreme athletes NOT have a heightened risk of early death, but on average, the athletes actually lived 17% longer than the non-athlete group.

It is important to note the study does not explain why the athletes live longer. There are many possible contributing factors to the longer lives. However, the key takeaway, according to the study is that the findings, “underpin the importance of exercising without the fear that becoming exhausted might be bad for one's health.” While every person is different, it is an interesting study with good results. Ref. Pub Med.gov, wired.com

FIFA Dictates Rigorous Goal-Line Tech Testing

FIFA may be under heavy scrutiny for questionable practices, but there is at least one thing they take extraordinarily seriously; technology acceptance testing. Or at least goal-line technology testing. Wired.com broke down the great rigor potential goal-line technology solutions are put through before being adopted by FIFA. If you thought the biggest hurdle was FIFA simply accepting that they needed to move into the 21st century, you will soon find out that was just the beginning.

As mentioned in a previous article, Goal-Line Technology Under FIFA Review, (still) FIFA President Sepp Blatter said a goal-line technology solution needs to be accurate, immediate and not too complicated. To determine if potential solutions meet those criteria, they go through a battering of tests in both day and nighttime conditions. The first test is simple; balls are kicked into the net from varying spots on the field, and the only passing grade is 100% detection accuracy.

For the second phase of testing, a ball is kicked against a flat wall aligned with the goal line. The wall is moved back into the net and further balls are kicked against the wall. This is to test whether the ball is detected as a fair goal if, and only if, it fully crosses the goal line. Passing score here is a little more lenient, just 90% accurate. Wired.com describes the next test as, “involve[ing] a ball being placed within a mechanism that’ll move it slowly across the goal line. The ball will be rotated at varying speeds, and a 90 percent success rate is also expected here.”

The above assessments determine the accuracy factor (as Blatter mentioned), but a separate test puts the ‘immediate’ requirement under inspection. A referee must be alerted via a wristwatch of the goal within 1 second of the goal being scored. No word yet how Blatter’s request for technology that is not ‘too complicated’ is being measured.

This is a tall order. In FIFA’s first testing cycle this year, all 10 companies that pitched technologies failed to meet the criteria for acceptance. Hopefully someone will step up with a solution soon because FIFA has set July 2012 as the approval deadline to be used in the 2014 Brazil World Cup. Ref. guardian.co.uk, wired.com, img: totalfootballmadness.com

What LeBron James Can Teach You about Social Media - Reaction

I came across an article titled, “What LeBron James Can Teach You About Social Media.” Below are the 5 key points Albert Qian, author of the blog Albert Qian: The Social Media Dude, says James has taught us all about social media.

1) It's all about execution: LeBron James showed that he is a fierce power to be reckoned with, and has done so all throughout his career. He’s best known for the playoff game versus the Detroit Pistons where he scored his team’s last 25 points on his way to leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a victory. That said, in this series, he and the rest of the team did not execute down the stretch and blew some key leads. In social media, you too can have a Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James, but if your superstars fail to execute, you too are doomed for failure despite a good back bone.

2) Disappearing acts are no good: LeBron James failed to show up in the fourth quarter of these NBA finals, plain and simple. For that fact, James has shown that he doesn’t show up in many clutch games, from last year’s Celtics series as well. In social media, you cannot disappear from your customers and your community and expect to win. Disappearing diminishes your influence and shows that you simply may not have your customers or social media as a very high priority.

3) There are no shortcuts: Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert tweeted after the game that in this sport, there are no shortcuts. You cannot simply just leave and build a team of superstars and expect to win. You must plan and execute faithfully in order to do well in basketball, as well as social media.

4) Offense wins games, defense wins titles but leadership wins hearts: Social media is a great balance of the 3 - offense, defense and leadership/special teams. You can do well sometimes with one or two, but if you’re going to win at what you do and your industry, you must do well at all 3. LeBron James over the years has checked out in the middle of games, only to cost his team. Don’t check out on your social media strategy - it will cost you dearly as well.

5) Keep it Classy: Social media requires class to succeed. You must always keep it professional and keep it worthy of your engagement and interaction. Not doing so will cost you customers as well as alienate fans, much in the way LeBron James did last summer in his famed “The Decision” special.

First of all, this is a really interesting topic and I applauded Qian for the provocative perspective. My favorite points are #2 and #5. Regarding point 2, in business especially, we forget that social media needs care and attention. Setting up a Facebook page or chat room will not be a silver bullet for engaging customers; it takes real effort and commitment.

Point #5 cannot be overstated. Once something is put out there on a site or in a Tweet, it is there forever. The age-old advice of never putting something in print that you would not want on the front page of the Wall Street Journal could not be more applicable in social media. The seemingly casual tone of social media does not mean it is ok to post careless or sloppy. The setting may be informal but the information distributed should be reviewed and posted with the ultimate care. Ref. albertquin.com, nba-all-star-pix

Bright Future for Cricket Shades

Nothing makes a trend smoking hot like a celebrity endorsement. This is why athletes are paid millions to wear a certain company’s clothes or use a specific type of equipment. Cricket is no exception…but interestingly enough it’s not the type of bat or ball equipment that companies are pushing, but the eyewear that is getting all the attention. However cricket players are not donning just any pair of shades, there is some impressive technology put into these sunglasses worn onto the field.

As with most equipment, the glasses must be lightweight and flexible. However these glasses go beyond durable, the lenses are treated to improve visibility by filtering out the blue light and enhancing the red light. This filtering makes the ball more clearly visible. Additionally, Oakley’s KP Customer Jawbone lenses are hydrophobic coated. Hydrophobic coating repels dust, and makes the lens essentially smudge-resistant to fingerprints and oils (including sunscreens).

Of course none of the fancy features of the frames would matter unless the glasses looked sharp. While the market is still emerging, some big companies have begun diving in with cricket-specific eyewear lines. These lines also come with a shining endorsement from prominent players like India’s Yuvraj Singh who was signed by Oakley. This niche market is interesting because leading sunglasses makers like Oakley and Reebok already have developed many of these features/technologies for use in other lines. However the practical application of this to cricket provides them one more market to play in. Ref: cricketsupplies.com, wordweaver

The Domed Gold Cup To Be Played On Real Grass

The US will face Canada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup at Ford Field Tuesday night. This game is significant not just because it brings the winner one step closer to the final in Pasadena, CA, but also because of the surface of the pitch. This game will be played on real grass…real grass within the domed home of the Detroit Lions.

The grass beneath the players’ feet was actually trucked in from Hammonton, New Jersey. It took 25 refrigerated trucks arriving over a three-day period starting last Friday. All four teams that will compete on this surface had the opportunity to practice on the field today. Canadian midfielder Dwayne De Rosario said of the field, “There's no bounce to the grass and it's slow…” Additional concerns have been raised questioning if the grass will stay alive and be rooted by Tuesday.

The US and Canada will be playing the second game on the field that night following the Guadeloupe-Panama game, so some worry the field may be badly ripped up in the first game. While tomorrow night may be the first time the teams compete on real grass in a dome, the US already had the opportunity to play on real grass-over-turf surface last Saturday. That friendly resulted in Spain defeating the US 4-0 at the open-air Gillette Stadium.

After the games, the field will be composted because transplanted turf has a low chance of surviving. Ref. Canadian Press, Detroit Free Press

How Hockey Rinks Are Made

The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks continue to battle through the NHL playoffs hoping to take home the Stanley Cup. The stage of this battle is one of the most interesting platforms in all of sports, an ice rink. In most games the ice seems to be all but overlooked, (except by Red Wing fans and octopus). However the way rinks are made is pretty interesting. Here is a video of how hockey rinks are made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hT3yfuLPIU



In past articles I have written about high tech ballparks and arenas going green, but this low-tech eco-friendly ice may actually be the most interesting of all. Ref. youtube.com